Lawful-Legal | Commonly Confused Words

Lawful

/ˈlɔːfəl/

Allowed by the rules or laws

The contract was deemed lawful by the court.Her lawful duty was to report the findings.Only lawful actions were taken to resolve the issue.

/'liːg(ə)l/

Something that is allowed by the law or follows the rules set by the government

A great legal mistake.'As a legal point.'I don't think legal justice has really been done me."

Lawful conveys the position of being permitted by law, while legal specifically refers to compliance with statutory law.
Lawful often attaches to actions or conduct, indicating these are not prohibited by any existing law.
Legal is commonly associated with terms like legal rights, legal documents, or legal procedures, showing a formal engagement with law structures.